There were two victors in the April 10, 2008 elections: the Maoists, and the MJF. And the MJF is the only political party in the country with a track record of having successfully countered the Maoists.
There is no compromising the rule of law. The Maoists do not get to enage in muscle power. They do not get to engage in a rein of terror.
In The News
Video shows Dahal admitting real strength of PLA not more than 8,000; sharing plans to control army and capture state NepalNews the video which the channel claimed was from January 2, 2008 when the Maoists were an important constituent of the Girija Prasad Koirala led interim government ....... "We were (PLA's strength) somewhere between 7,000 and 8,000. If we had reported the correct figure of the PLA, then it would then have been reduced to around 4,000."......... "But our party's leadership decided to report PLA strength as 35,000, and thanks to it the PLA's strength is now 20,000 at least," he said smilingly, evoking peels of laughter around him.........."So our strength has actually increased. You and I know the truth, but why should we tell it to others." ...... apart from the PLA, which he said is now already a "regular army", the party has also formed YCL comprising thousands of youths despite various difficulties and "who now add to our strength". ....... The Maoist chairman also revealed that a significant share of the money that will go to "our martyrs" in villages throughout the country and the PLA in cantonments will be used by the party to prepare for revolt and ultimately capture the state. ...... "You all know that if we have enough money in our hands we can prepare a good battle plan. So, the party needs a good amount of money for the revolt," he said...... though the party may appear to have again reached a compromise (with the state and political parties), "but if you look deeply then you will know how seriously the party is preparing for the ultimate revolt". ..... Claiming that PLA combatants are "politically aware", he said even a small number of their entry into NA is enough to establish complete Maoist control over the army. Maoists warn NC, UML cadres to leave Ramechhap, gun fires kill one in Rolpa 22 parties meeting inconclusiveMadhesi Janadhikar Forum, a key component for formation of new government, was absent from the meeting and is unlikely to give its decision until party chairman Upendra Yadav returns from his foreign visit. The party also has laid claimed for the post of prime minister. Form new government by Saturday: President SC issues show cause order to president INHURED International filed the case seeking cancellation of the president’s move Maoists disrupt House proceedings the new government will not be formed until president corrects his action. Police arrest civil society activists UNSG saddened by Nepal’s political development NDF meeting postponed EU expresses concern over recent political developments Maoists to launch agitation from House and street
Cabinet declares 7000 as martyrs NepalNews "The cabinet has declared people killed during the Maoist struggle as martyr of people's war, those killed in people's movement-II as martyrs of people's movement and people killed during the Madhesh movement as martyrs of Madhesh movement"
This is ridiculous. People killed in a civil war are not martyrs. Their deaths are tragic, but they are not martyrs. The Maoist violence lasting 10 years was stupidity. It was wrong. That violence can not be lumped with the three nonviolent revolutions of April 2006, January-February 2007, and February 2008. The April Revolution was not the Nepali people condoning the Maoists' stupid civil war. It was the Nepali people saying no to that violence.
This declaration also puts the peace process into a serious jeopardy. The Nepal Army is now going to want to know if their soldiers killed during the 10 years were also martyrs or what.
The only good news in this decision is that it does not come into effect unless the parliament passes it, and I urge the parliament to not pass it.
The people killed during the three nonviolent revolutions were martyrs. They can not be lumped with the Maoists killed over 10 years. To do so is to blatantly disrespect the martyrs of the three revolutions.
Not to say the whole exercise would be ridiculously expensive, something the country can not afford.
UML chairman raps govt over 'arbitrary decisions' NepalNews Jhala Nath Khanal Friday strongly criticised the Maoist- led government for making arbitrary appointments and transfers of officials by taking advantage of the UML general convention. ...... the political document endorsed by the party's eighth general convention last week which, among others things, call for protection of party cadres from the Maoists' "anarchic activities" PM Dahal commits to completing revolution NepalNews writing a pro-people constitution is necessary for completing the political revolution in Nepal. .....He claimed his party has the moral responsibility to lead the world communist movement, not only for Nepal. "Communist movement in Russia and Vietnam failed because leaders did not understand the real spirit of revolution," Dahal said, adding Nepal will have a unique revolution to suit the climate of 21st century.
This guy needs to define the word revolution. Both Prachanda and Bhattarai talk of political plurality, and rule of law, but they also talk of revolution.
Govt is trying to put private sector in the soup: Entrepreneurs NepalNews five different industrial organisations including the FNCCI, Hotel Association, Confederation of Nepalese Industry and Overseas Export Association. ..... accused the government of trying to stifle wealth creation in the country by imposing unjustifiable tax against the entrepreneurs ..... blamed government of trying to further discourage businesspersons by imposing 5 percent tax for the private schools as well
Baburam wanting to expand the revenue base is not a bad idea. But one has to ask if he gets the market and entrepreneurship.
Koirala asks party activists to strike back if poked NepalNews Girija Prasad Koirala on Friday directed his party activists to retaliate against any violent activities of the Maoists .... "If they (the Maoists) continue with their violent activities then you have to also retaliate against it" ..... clearly hinting at the possibility of Maoist activists turning to violence in the upcoming Free Students' Union (FSU) election.
Seeds of anarchy are being sown.
TMLP strike affects life adversely in Terai districts NepalNews Traffic along the east-west highway and supporting highways have come to a halt and markets has remained largely closed from early morning on Friday. Busy market places of commercial towns like Janakpur and Birgunj wore a deserted look. Educational institutions are also closed. TMLP has called for a one-day strike in Terai districts as part of a series of protest programmes demanding the government implement the agreement reached with the erstwhile United Terai Loktantrik Morcha (UTLM) exactly one year ago. .....the victims of Koshi flood have continued obstructing traffic along the Laukahi-Bhatabari section of the east west highway for the eighth consecutive day.
"If there is another movement, we will be back on thestreets" Nepali Times It has been exactly one year since Prime Minister Koirala said in Hindi on the Baluwatar lawns: "Believe me. I will implement the eight-point agreement." Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhab Kumar Nepal nodded. Mahanta Thakur reciprocated, and spoke in Nepali. The agreement promised an autonomous Madhes province, inclusion and collective entry into the army. ...... There has not been inclusion proportionate to the population. And there is little change in the army's character." ..... The TMDP's idea is not to trigger off mass unrest but to keep up the pressure on the government, use the period to mobilise and build up an organisation and occupy the moral high ground by exposing the fecklessness of the other Madhesi parties in the coalition. ...... Breakaway Maoist Matrika Yadav is still in his planning stage, in touch with underground militants. ....... "The Madhes is lost. It is trapped between the MJF which is in government but increasingly unpopular on the ground, TMDP which is protesting but is internally weak and a state that can't protect its citizens." The centre can't hold Armed groups are still active, fear is deep and as a journalist put it: "The state just has no strength left." ....... We have known that sections of the administration are complicit with the Tarai's criminal gangs and share the loot, but it seems to go a lot deeper than that. ...... Government officials actively encourage loot and extortion. A cop may actually tell a particular group which trader is a possible target and fix a share. An official at the land office may inform an armed militant about recent transactions and who would have liquid cash. A mid-level banker may pass on the details of which family has received money from a relative in the Gulf. ..... The key aim of the Maoists is to get as many armed groups in the party as possible. ...... no one here can quite figure out what the government is trying to do. Why are they legitimising goons even though the real militants are still out of the process? Why is it allowing this semi-anarchy to persist? Is the aim to foster a sense of disillusionment, discredit the Madhes movement, and then unleash a security operation? Is it to allow these groups to come out and make life difficult for the Madhesi parties, who are being squeezed from all sides? .... politicians are playing with fire and making life hell for the people of the eastern Tarai.
The Pahadi power structure is systematically punishing the Madhesi population in the Terai by intentionally going slack on law and order in the Terai. The punishment is for giving a big victory to the Madhesi parties on April 10, 2008. The Pahadi police that openly sided with the Pahadi rioters in Nepalgunj in December 2006 are now doing something similar by acting absent while on duty. They used to practice active suppression during the Panchayat. Now they are punishing the Madhesi population by going passive in the line of duty and, worse, actively colluding with criminal elements to make life hell for the Madhesi population. This attitude is a recipe for a disintegration of the country. Remember Bangladesh?
The Maoists need to be talking to Jwala, Goit and Matrika. Peace Minister Prabhakar has been waging the drama of holding peace talks with little known outfits that have members in the tens, not thousands.
Jwala, Goit and Matrika are all Maoists like Prabhakar and Prachanda. They should be able to speak each other's language and come to the negotiating table.
As long as the royalists of yesterday and the Maoists of today keep wanting to create a Pahadi army by merging two Pahadi armies, there will be no peace in the Terai. The idea has to be to create a Nepali Army in which the Madhesi participation is proportionate.
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